Gas producer



Sept. 13, 19325 J. VAN ACKEREN 1,

GAS PRODUCER Filed Aug. 20, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 1N VE N TOR Sept. 13,1932. Y J. VAN ACKEREN 1,876,801

GAS PRODUCER Filed 20, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Sept. 13, 1932UNITED STATES PATENT! OFFICE JOSEPH van noxnnnrr, or OHARA 'rownsnrr,ALLEGHENY COUNTY, ramrsnvnnm, nssrenon ro THE KOPPERS COMPANYOF'DELAWARE, A coaroanrron or DELA- WARE ens rnonucna I My inventionrelates to gas producers and particularly to apparatus for removing ashtherefrom.

One object of my invention is to provide simple and efiicient apparatusfor continuously and automatically removing ash from gas generatorsduring their operation.

A further object of my invention is to provide a rotatable ash panhaving apparatus carried thereby for removing ash therefrom while thepan is rotating.

A further object of my invention is to provide a rotatable ash panhaving apparatus carried thereby and movable therewith for removing ashtherefrom in a circular path during the rotation of the pan.

In accordance with my invention, I provide a gas producer having arotatable ash pan for providing a water seal in accordance with usualpractice. The pan is provided with a plurality of ash-lifting devicesthat rotate with the pan and transfer ash therefrom to a stationarycircular trough surrounding the pan. Ash plows that are carried by thepan actuate the ash along the circular trough to an outlet opening fromwhich the ash may be removed by any suitable or usual means.

In the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is a view, partially in elevation and partially in verticalsection, of a gas producer constructed in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line II-II of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional viegv of a portion of theapparatus of Fig. 1; an

Fig. 4 is an enlarged side view of one of the ash-lifting devices.

A gas producer 1 comprises a stationary portion 2 that is supported onany suitable structure, as, for example, framework 3. The stationaryportion 2 of the generator which contains the fire bed indicated at 4 isprovided with a charging mechanism 5 and a gas oiftake pipe 6.

The bottom of the producer is provided with a rotatable structurecomprising an annular ash pan 7 having an inclined outer s1de 8. Anannular flange 9 connected to the statlonary portlon 2 extendsdownwardly 1nto the pan 7 which is partially filled with water toprovide a liquid seal between these relatlvely movable parts.

The ash pan 7 is rotatably mounted on a foundation 10 by means of a ballrace 11. The ash pan 7 and the foundation 10 are connected by a waterseal formed by a stationary annular trough 12 and an annular flange 13connected to the ash pan.

The ash pan 7 carries an eccentrically mounted grate 15 that is providedwith suitable perforations for admitting air under pressure to the fuelbed. Air is supplied to the grate 15 through-a pipe 16 and a verticalduct 17 in the foundation 10.

The ash pan 7 is rotated by a mechanism comprising a relatively largeworm gear 18 and a driving mechanism therefor comprising an intermittentmechanism 19 that is actuated by a rod 20 and an eccentric 21 wherebyrelatively slow motion is imparted to the ash pan 7 and its associatedparts.

As is best shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the inclined outer side of the ashpan 7 has mounted thereon a series of rotatable ashlifting devices 22having curved arms 23 for lifting ash from the pan 7 outwardly over theedge thereof. Any suitable number of ash-lifting devices 22 may beemployed, siX being shown by way of example.

The ash-lifting devices 22 are actuated by means of rollers 24 mountedon pins or spokes 25 that extend outwardly from the stationary portion 2of the producer substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of theash-lifting devices 22.

An annular trough27 extends around the periphery of the ash pan 7 insuch position as to receive any ash that may be discharged from the ashpan by means of the several ash-lifting devices 22. The trough 27 isprovided with an outlet opening 28, into which the ash is actuated by aseries of plows 29 that are carried by the ash pan 7.

In the operation of the producer, the fuel is gradually consumed by theintroduction of air through the grate 15 and the resulting ash descendsat a corresponding rate into the ash pan 7 The latter rotatesat arelatively low speed to'cause the eccentric grate to agitate the fuelbed and to cause the ash to move gradually downwardly into the ash pan.As the ash pan rotates, the rollers 24 rotate the ash-lifting devices 22and the latter lift accumulated ash from the bottom of the pan 7 intothe annular trough 27.

Each of the ash-lifting devices operates continuously throughout thecircular path of rotation of the ash pan. At the same time,

the ash plows 29 actuate the ash along the trough 27 to the outletopening 28, from which it may be removed by any suitable means.

It will be noted that I have provided a simple and efiicient mechanismwhereby ash is removed from the ash pan by means operating continuouslythroughout the rotation of the ash pan. The operation of the ash-liftingdevices is brought about by the relative movement between the ash panand the body of the producer.

The operating portions of the mechanism are easily accessible forinspection and repair and are of such rugged nature as to operate forlong periods without material wear. The foregoing and other advantageswill be apparent to those skilled in the art relating to gas producers.

I claim as my invention:

1. A rotatable ash pan, a rotatable ashlifting device carried thereby,means operable to rotate said device when said ash pan is rotated, atrough for receiving ash from said device and means for removing ashfrom said trough.

2. A gas generator comprising a rotatable grate, a rotatable ash pan forcontaining water and for receiving ash from said grate, an annularreceptacle adjacent thereto and having an outlet, and means carried bysaid pan for continuously transferring ash from said pan to saidreceptacle and for actuating ash in said receptacle into said outlet.

3. A gas generator comprising a rotatable ash pan, an annular receptacleadjacent thereto and having an outlet, means for transferring ash fromsaid pan to said receptacle, and means movable with said pan forcontinuously moving ash in said receptacle toward said outlet.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 16th dayof August,

JUSEPH VAN ACKEREN.

